PCOO’s Visayas Media Hub breaks ground in Mandaue City
MANDAUE CITY – Visayas will soon have its own government media hub that will cater to tailor fitted news and information for its regions, as Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar led the groundbreaking ceremony this morning.
The facility will rise within the 3,000-square meter property of the Department
of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in Barangay Subangdaku.
According to Secretary Andanar, the Visayas Media Hub will serve as the
main government broadcast for Central, Eastern, and Western Visayas.
“The world-class media hub is part of our vision in the wider PCOO family to
ensure that we provide tailored news and information, establish direct
connectivity with the public, and bring the government closer to the Bisaya
people, especially in preparation for, during times of calamities and
disasters, and their aftermath,” he said.
The PCOO chief recalled the efforts that they have done in order to
improve the operations not only in the PCOO proper but also that of its
attached agencies. He also acknowledged the leadership of the directors and
managers who rallied for the improvement of their respective offices.
“We have so much catching up to do but we were able to catch up because of good
leaders behind it,” he said.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in a video message extended his
congratulations to the PCOO for its initiative to modernize the operations of
government media.
“I welcome the creation of this new facility and state-of -the-art
equipment that will push the government’s communications service across the
country. I am certain that this hub will be a beacon of excellence as we
modernize government media for the improved welfare of our people in the
Visayas and the rest of the nation,” he said.
The PCOO proper will take the lead in managing and maintaining the
facility. Much like the Mindanao Media Hub, VMH will also house other PCOO
attached agencies such as the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS), Philippine
Information Agency (PIA), Philippine News Agency (PNA), and Radio Television
MalacaΓ±ang (RTVM).
The construction project has an allotment of P300 million, while another
P300 million was secured to procure state-of-the-art broadcast equipment and
facilities. The project was included in the PCOO’s 2022 budget with the support
of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.
In his message of support, Sen. Go considered the historic infrastructure
project as a milestone in the government’s communication operations and
services nationwide.
“This is a vital step to increase civic awareness and public
participation among Filipinos, especially in the Visayas regions,” he said.
Officials who joined the event included Office of the Presidential
Adviser to the Visayas (OPAV) Undersecretary Jonjie Gonzales, PCOO
Undersecretary Kris Ablan, PIA Director General Ramon Cualoping III, PBS
Director General Giovanni Aportadera, PTV General Manager Kat de Castro, News
and Information Bureau Director Virginia Agtay, RTVM Executive Director
Assistant Secretary Dennis Wilfred Pabalan and local government officials
headed by Mayor Jonas Cortez. ###
